Images of Sri Lanka

This will all be a thing of the past.

Big scary buffalo, crazy driving, my office (with my husband in it).

How do normal people live?

This is the question I pose in preparation for the big move to Oz. My challenge will be to reintegrate into normal society with all the normal cares and worries about ... traffic, the price of groceries and petrol, friday night entertainment, social engagements with friends we don't have yet, following a budget, christian holidays, etc...

Our favorite Sri Lankan Hotel - Aditya

Beautiful Indian Ocean Coastline


Big daddy cool and his belly


As soon as I got back from my exile in the States, Richard and I reunited for a long weekend break at Aditya, our favorite Sri Lankan hotel just south of Hikkaduwa. The decor is modern and stylish with a touch of the exotic as there should be when in a tropical country, the staff are friendly and respectful, the best part - is the amazing food that can be ordered at any time of the day. We caught up with Charith and Michelle who we probably won't see again until the Christmas holidays in Melbourne.

May seems like so long ago...

The last posting was too long ago, but that time has flown by in a flurry of frustrations (mostly related with work) so its just as well that the time has gone by so quickly. I have barely had a chance to breathe, much less blog. Not that anyone reads this blog to miss the updates.

In the past 5 months (wow- really? 5 months of silence!) I finally got my Sri Lankan residence visa after 6 long anxious weeks waiting in the states back in April and May, excelled at work to become the program manager in the North, sent my husband to Australia 3 months ahead of me, watched lots of DVDs like The Wire, finished the West Wing, became a total couch potato when not totally engrossed in working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, I think I lost 7 lbs (At least one size down) by not eating due to fatigue and stress, anniverseried in Singapore, attended my sister's wedding in the States and now back to work for another 3 weeks before settling back into "normalcy" in Oz - only semi-looking forward to a feeling of relief and freedom.

The above is a photo montague to record the past 5 month's events. Some comments are included.

We saw...

Galactic, James Taylor, Some Jazz, Brassiliano??, Ile Ayie (good dancing drum beats, I love it), Earth Wind and Fire (very Retro), and Locos por Juanes - Deb's influence.

Jazzfest NOLA 2009

As I wait for my visa to be processed, might as well take the opportunity to take in some Jazzfest and visit with Deb and Erin in my favorite city. Lots of fried foods, oysters, po-boys and crawfish, gastronomic therapy. I really needed to get some dancing into my style. its been a while.

Saw some really weird people, good 'ole Nawlins.

Easter

Easter with the Fam, minus the husband. It was a lovely almost Spring day in the hollow. Great food and Lindsey came!

Esther and Asa

Little white babies. As cute as can be.

Visiting with my cousin Libby. The house is bustling with family activity. Screaming baby and crazy youngin running around. Its almost spring, though it snowed the other night. The sun is coming out now in the daytime. Feeling very displaced, but well taken care of during this brief break. Enjoy it while I can. Free my mind and imagine happiness no matter what happens.

More evidence of the work getting done

This is what we are doing these days

Building shelters and providing sanitation facilities to the displaced people in Sri Lanka.

Big Life Decisions

Something thats always on our minds is when is it time to move on from here. Our life (work and social) is never permanent, what with visa issues, job stresses and planning for a family. It was never our intention to stay here for more than a year or two. Where to from here? and how to transition out. We have gotten quite comfortable with an actual home, routine or sorts, and stability/respect at work. Only thing lacking is a social life, something other than work all the time. When not in the office, we are with people with whom we work talking about work. You can never get away.

Richard wants to move to Melbourne. I am not so sure about settling in a developed country just yet. I like the adventures we are having working in developing countries, not including recent bouts with nasty flu viruses. What about my career? And I hate being sucked into the consumerism and frivolities of modern living as I am apt to be. I am a sucker for Starbucks, "organic" wholefood shopping, fashion magazines, and such. I foresee weight gain as I once again am able to enjoy delicious conveniences and added expenses eating away our investments capital.

Habarana Forum Meeting

Guys from work.

It can be chanllenging at time working with your spouse. But so far it has worked out well (most of the time). As long as we all understand that I am the boss.

Oh Canada!

This was when we visited Richard's sister and her family in Canada in January, not far from Toronto. Did a bit of ice skating, minigolf, "enjoyed" the snow, and went up to the CN tower.

Winter Holiday

More photos of our trip home. Deb and I freezing at new years, Snow!, and we managed to meet up with Erin and JP for dinner in Bethesda at one of my favorite Restuarants, RAKU. I hadn't seen them in forever and now they are married. Sorry I missed the wedding.

To the States and Back

We spent a wonderful if busy 4 weeks in the States with family. I wish we could have only had a bit more chill time. We spent a lot of time driving unfortunately from one house to the next for meal times. We ate a lot, talked a lot, catching up on news and packing in all the goodies before we returned to the land of rice and curry.

Didn't take too many photos especially since this is a new camera bought just before New Years. We spent New Years Eve in the Hollow sans electricity, keeping warm by the bonfire. Deb came for a visit from the South, I hope I didn't freeze her that night sleeping in the camper. And we had one more day with Tanya in downtown DC. Thank so much for making the effort to meet up even though it was brief.

The cold was an unpleasant jolt back into the modern world. Putting on all those layers takes a lot more coordination in the morning. Shopping was fun, as we imagined all the things we could take back to help us unwind back in Sri Lanka. (Food, books, Wii). Though we didn't end up getting the Wii.